BIOGRAPHY: Brian remembers sitting on the front step at 22 Duerden
Street, Salford, wearing short pants and waiting to be called inside
after the birth of his brother, Allan.
MARRIAGE: On the night Brian and Doreen were married. My mam and Georges
Barnes brother, Walter, made them a French bed. They put everything
into it, including bananas, apples and all kinds of fruit.They tried
to find a bell to hang beneath the bed but could not find one.After
Brian and Doreen had gone to bed, Walter knocked on the door and asked
"Do you need any help?" Next morning all the fruit had gone, they had
eaten it during the night.
MARRIAGE: Divorced 5 June 1975
DEATH: Collapsed on Manchester Road, Walkden shortly after walking
his dog, Lucy, and picking up his morning news paper. Was assisted by
a Carol Mosey who worked as a nurse at Walkden Clinic.
BURIAL: Cremated at Overdale Crematorium on Chorley Old Road, Bolton on Wednesday 1 April, 1998.
EULOGIES:
1. Read by Graham Townshend, brother of Phil Townshend (son-in-law) who was unable to attend.
I would just like to express in a few words about a man who was better
at words than most of us, who had a passion for knowledge and sport.
A man whose compassion, trust, sarcasm and witty nature have affected
all that knew him in one-way or another. To me, Brian was a father-in-law,
a Dad and best friend, and he deserves an Oscar for every one of those
roles he played. I am very proud to have married one of his four beautiful
daughters and to have known him. Not only was he the "life of the party",
but to a great extent the life of our lives. Goodnight Brian -God Bless.
Phil".
2. Read by Allan Scahill (brother).
Brian Scahill. "Our kid. Or as we affectionately call each other in
our family, Reilly. Born on the 7th of March 1936. Brian had just celebrated
his 62nd birthday. Like his mother, granddaughter Sarah, grandson Robert
and myself he was a Pisces.
Brian was an attentive son, adoring father, loving husband, caring
brother and an extremely good friend.
As a son he made his mothers life a lot easier. For many years he visited
her and made sure she had her groceries and that her bills we paid on
time. Both he and Doreen would run her to Farnworth either on the bus
or in a car, then with the aid of a wheelchair push her around, always
making sure they stopped for lunch at her favorite fish and chip shop.
Brian performed this task week in and week out, and on lots of occasions
did not get the appreciation he deserved.
As a father he assisted with the raising of 4 of the nicest girls you
could wish to meet. Julie, Elaine, Jacqueline and Gillian. Brian and
Doreen also raised 2 boys. Young Brian who died and my son Gary.
Brian and Doreen raised Gary for me while I was in the Army and for
that I thank them both deeply. I am proud to say that Gary has a lot
more of Brian's attributes than mine. Brian raised Gary to play and
appreciate football and of course to support Manchester United. That
family trait has now been passed onto Gary's children, Sarah, Brian
and Angela.
As a loving husband to Doreen they spent several happy years together.
Unlike other separated and divorced couples, Brian and Doreen stayed
extremely close and developed a friendship that would be the envy of
many.
As a brother, he was the nicest guy I could ever wish to meet, until
that is we played cards, darts or pool against each other. Then the
brotherly rivalry would come out. Neither of us could pass up the opportunity
to make a quick remark, as the other was about to throw a dart or make
a pool shot. Brian's sharp wit and fast one liners are something I will
always cherish.
My first recollection of Brian was as a youngster of maybe 3 or 4 years
of age. He was pushing me in a pram to the nursery school I went to
on Chapel Street in Salford. We were behind Salford Royal Hospital and
I looked up and saw a bird on the top of a chimney. I pointed at it
with two fingers in the shape of a gun and made a noise as though to
shoot it. I was amazed to see the bird disappear and I shouted, "I got
it. I got it. Brian didn't dissolution me, he just said "Good shot".
My next memory of Brian is chasing me around number 7 Ellesmere Street
saying I'm going to murder him. As a delinquent pre teenager of about
11 or 12 years of age, I'd borrowed his watch, never dreaming to ask
him of course. Anyway I was hiding under the bed awaiting the wrath
of my big brother.
I'm not sure who saved my hide, my mother or Doreen?
In 1991, Brian and my mother came to Canada for a holiday. I rented
a motor home for two weeks to tour the Rockies. Also on the trip were
my wife Gloria and her mother Elsie. At one particular camp ground,
Brian and myself had a few beers and several shots of Canadian rye whiskey.
Elsie needed to go to the toilet so Brian offered to show her the way.
Now I have to tell you that Elsie was blind in one eye and had only
partial vision in the other. It's nighttime in a campground in the Rockies
and there isn't much light. Brian is not feeling any pain by this time
and off they trudge. The blind being led by the blind drunk. As they
crossed the space between the motor home and the toilets, Elsie disappears
into a small hole, the kind of hole that is left after removing a tree
and it's roots. "Watch out" Elsie says, but it's too late, Brian follows
her in. All we could hear back at the motor home was the giggles and
laughter of Elsie and Brian. They fell into the same hole coming back.
Elsie always remembered that holiday and always laughed about it.
I have many more stories about that vacation and they will be included
in my family history album.
Brian enjoyed a good pint of mild, his family dogs, crossword puzzles,
educational TV programs and going to Bingo. He liked simple English
food and if it contained anything other than salt and pepper he didn't
want to know. He liked his tea strong with milk and two sugars. He lived
life the way he wanted to, and for that we have to respect him.
In conclusion I would like to say that the hungry years have come and
gone Brian. It's now time for you to feast in Heaven.
I'll miss you Reilly, we all will.
BURIAL: Some of Brian's ashes were buried at Weaste Cemetery, Salford, Lancashire,
England, on April 6, 1998. Gary Scahill (nephew) and Jacqueline Townshend
(daughter), placed the ashes into the family plot, number 872N.
On Sunday 19 April 1998 at 7:20 PM, the remainder of Brian's ashes
was buried by the South Saskatchewan River at Police Point Park, Medicine
Hat, Alberta, Canada.
The hole the ashes were placed into was dug by his son-in-law, PhillipTownshend.
In attendance were: Jacqueline & Phillip Townshend, their children,
Robert and Jennifer (Brian's grandchildren). Gary & Holly Scahill and
their children, Sarah, Brian & Angela (Brian's great niece's and nephew).
Allan & Gloria Scahill (brother & sister-in-law). Ruth Frolick (a very
good friend). Maia (Allan & Gloria's dog). The spot is situated between
two cottonwood trees and is marked by a small pile of rocks at the base
of the trees. Directly in front of the trees is a bench, which is on
the edge of the riverbank. Each of the family members in attendance
took turns in placing a portion of the ashes into the hole. Jackie spoke
the following words given to her that morning by her sister Julie:
"Softly the leaves of memory fall. Gently I gather and treasure them
all. Unseen, unheard, you are always near. So missed, so loved, so very
dear".
Ruth said she would like to say her own personal eulogy: "Friends are
very precious and when you loose one it makes it hard to understand
or bear. Brian. You were my friend and it meant a lot to me. You were
there when I needed someone to talk to. You were one of the dearest
friends I've ever had. You were happy that my life was getting in order
finally; you expressed that in your last letter. The last time we talked,
you said someday soon we would have a tea or beer. Your here now, so
I say good-bye and I'll always love you for the great person you are.
Goodbye my friend".
The certificate allowing Brian's ashes to come to Canada was supplied
by Overdale Crematorium, and is called "The Certificate of Disposal".
Registration number is 155490.